2026 World Democracy Index

This Year's Pamphlets World Democracy Index is Out.

A new global map measuring who actually holds power

When we talk about democracy, we often focus on elections. This index begins from a more practical question: who holds real influence, and who absorbs the consequences when decisions are made?

The Pamphlets World Democracy Index examines political systems as they function in everyday life, not just as they are described in law. It looks at whether governments are meaningfully responsive to the public, or whether decision-making is concentrated among political, military, or economic elites who are largely insulated from popular pressure. It also considers how states exercise power beyond their borders, particularly through war, economic coercion, and the protection of corporate interests.

To clarify these differences, the map uses five categories:

• ⬛ Anti-Democratic Regime Power is concentrated among elites and largely unaccountable to the public. Elections, if they exist, do not constrain authority. Corporate influence is extensive, labor protections are weak, and repression is common. These states frequently project instability through military action or economic pressure.

  
  

• 🟥 Antipopular Authoritarianism Formal institutions exist, but public participation has little impact on policy. Governments emphasize control and “stability” over accountability and representation.

  
  

• 🟨 Mixed System Competitive elections and civil freedoms exist, but power remains uneven. Democratic mechanisms coexist with corruption, entrenched interests, or strong external constraints.

  
  

• 📗 Flawed Democracy Political rights and elections are real, yet economic inequality and concentrated influence limit how responsive institutions are to ordinary citizens.

  
  

• 🟩 Popular Democracy High participation, broad social legitimacy, and institutions that generally reflect public priorities and needs.

This framework is not about labeling countries as good or bad. It reflects a simple principle: democracy is strongest where people can meaningfully influence the decisions that shape their lives—and weakest where power remains out of reach.